Yogi Adityanath Says Can't Be At Funeral Of Father Who Died At AIIMS Today

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's father, Anand Singh Bisht, died this morning. Mr Bisht who was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi last month due to kidney problems died at 10.44 am.

"Honourable CM's father left for his heavenly abode at 10.44 am. Our deepest condolences," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Uttar Pradesh government Awanish Awasthi said in a statement.

His body is being taken to his village in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.

Yogi Adityanath received the news of his father's death during a meeting on the COVID-19 crisis, a senior bureaucrat tweeted.

Expressing grief over his father's death, the Chief Minister said he would not be able to attend the last rites tomorrow due to the fight against coronavirus. "I wanted to be with him during his final moments, but could not due to my responsibility to protect Uttar Pradesh's 23 crore people. I will not be able to attend the funeral programme tomorrow due to the lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus. I appeal to my mother and my family members to follow the lockdown protocols while attending the funeral. I will visit after the lockdown ends," Yogi Adityanath said in a statement.

Several leaders including Union Minister Smriti Irani, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Akhilesh Yadav have condoled the death of Yogi Adityanth's father.

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also condoled the death.

"My deepest condolences on the death of Shri Anand Singh Bishtji, father of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. May God give courage to the family to suffer pain in this hour of grief. Soulful tribute," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted.

Uttar Pradesh, one of the most populous states in the country, has reported 969 coronavirus cases, including 14 deaths. Across India, more than 17,000 cases have been reported, more than 500 have died.

(Inputs and image from ndtv.com)